Cleaning and centrifuging apparatus



Aug. 24, 1948. H. E. EDWARDS 2,447,848

' CLEANING AND CENTRIFUGING APFARATUS Filed Oct. 9, 1945 FIG. 1.

w ESSES: INVENTOR I E HILBERT E.EDNARDS mum i WM ATTORNEY Patented Aug.24, 1948 2,447,848 CLEANING AND CENTRIFUGING APPARATUS Hilbert E.Edwards, Mansfield, Ohio, assignor to V Westinghouse-ElectricCorporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of PennsylvaniaApplication October 9, 1945, Serial No. 521,275

a subsequent to thecleaning of the fabrics, wherein the acceleration ofthe basket is readily effected even though the voltage of the circuitenergizing the motor is below normal.

A further object of the invention is to facilitate acceleration of anelectrically driven basket of a washing and centrifuging machine.

These and other objects are effected by my invention as will be apparentfrom the following description and claims taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view of a washing and centrifugingmachine constructed and ar-, ranged in accordance with my invention; and

Fig. 2 is a diagram of the electrical connections for the apparatusshown in Fig. 1.

Referring now to Fig. l of the drawing, I have shown my inventionapplied to a washing machine of the type having a water-containing tubIll within which a cylindrical basket structure II is mounted forrotation about a generally horizontal axis. The front of the tub I isprovided with an access opening 12 which registers with an accessopening l3 formed in the basket H, and a hinged gasketed door l2a closesthe opening l2. The basket ii is provided with a plurality of vanes l4for agitating the clothes in the body of wash water during slow speedoperation of the basket, as is well understood. The side of the basket His perforate throughout substantially its extent. a few of theperforations being shown at ii. The basket II is rotated at high speedin the absence of a body of fluid in the tub ill for centrifugingcleaning fluid from the fabrics.

The basket II is carried by a shaft l6- which is rotatable at low andhigh speeds 'by an adjustable two-speed mechanism l'l carried by the endwall of the tub ID, The two-speed mechanism il may be constructed in anywell-understood manner and has not been shown in detail since mechanismsof this type are well understood in the art. In this connection, asuitable mechanism of this type is disclosed in my Patent No. 2,284,047,granted May 26, 1942. The mechanism I1 is adiusted for high and. lowspeed rotation of the shaft It by means of an electromagnet II, which,

2 when deenergized, provides for low speed operation of the basket iiand, when energized, effects high speed operation of the basket. Thetwospeed mechanism I1 is driven by a sheave l9 belted, as shown at 2i,to the pulley 22 of an electric motor 22.

Water is admitted to the tub Ill through a conduit 24 under control ofan electrically-operated inlet valve 25. 25 is connected to athermostatically-controlled water mixing valve 28 which is supplied withhot and cold water through conduits 21 and 28. It will be understoodthat th mixing valve 28 is manually adjustable to provide differenttemperatures of wash water. A water mixing valve of the type shown at26'is disclosed and claimed in the patent of Frank Breckenridge, No.2,296,- 266, granted September 22, 1942.

Vitiated water is discharged from the tub ll through a drain conduit 29by means of a pump 3| driven by the motor 23, Flow of Water from the tubIii to the conduit 29 is controlled by an electrically-operated drainvalve 32.

The electric motor 23, the inlet and drain valves 25 and 32,respectively, and the speed-change magnet I! are energized anddeenergized sequentially by means of a timer, generally shown at 33, toprovide a predetermined sequence of steps in a washing and centrifugingprogram. The electrical connections between the timer 33 and the variousdevices controlled thereby are shown in Fig. 2.

The motor 23 which I have disclosed is of the split phase, squirrel cagetype and includes a rotor .35 and main and starting windings 36 and 31,respectively. The main winding is connected to terminals 38 and 39 andis provided with a tap 4i which divides the winding 36 into sections 42and 43. Accordingly, two running windings or circuits are provided, thefirst including both sections 42 and 43 in series and the secondincluding the section 42 only. When both sections are energized themotor develops a predetermined torque, and when the section 42 only isenergized, the motor provides higher torque due to the reduced impedanceof the running'winding and higher current therein which produces astronger rotating field. The motor 23, as explained hereinafter, isoperated at high torque during acceleration of the basket ii in order toreduce the period of acceleration. This feature is particularlydesirable where low voltage conditions are encountered. The startingwinding 31,

is controlled in conventional manner by a centrif,- ugal switch 4'4which is open when the speed of The upstream side Of'the valve 3 therotor II is above a predetermined value and closed at other times.

The timer 33 includes a relatively small clock type motor ll fordriving, through a speed-reducing mechanism II, a plurality of camoperating switches by means of a shaft 41. One of the switches is of thedouble-pole, double-throw type including a first pair of contacts II anda second pair of contacts I which are selectively bridged by a bridgingmember ii, the latter being actuated by a cam 52. Energization of thespeed change magnet II is controlled by a switch ll operated by a cam N.Energization of the inlet valve 28 is controlled by a switch ll operatedby a cam 58 and connected in series with a float switch I! which is openwhen a predetermined quantity of water is contained within the tub I Iand closed at other times. The float switch I1 is shown in Fig. 1connected to the lowermost portion of the tub Ill. As the constructionand operation of float-operated switches of the type shown at I! arewell understood in the art, no further description of the same is deemednecessary, Energization of the discharge valve 82 is controlled by aswitch ll operated by a cam II. The shaft 41 and the cams carriedthereby may be manually-advanced by a knob Ii in order to initiateoperation of the washing apparatus and to determine the duration of thewashing period, as is well understood. The cam shaft 41 is movable atall times in the direction of the arrow in Pig. 2, whether driven by themotor ll or manually actuated by the handle I. The source of power forthe apparatus is indicated by the line conductors Ll and In.

The apparatus shown in Fig. 2 is in the "off" position wherein all theelectrical translating devices are deenergized. In this position, thebridging member Bi is maintained in an "open" position intermediate thepairs of contacts ll and II.

In initiating a washing and centrifuging program, the clothes to bewashed are deposited in the basket H with a suitable detergent and thehandle II is moved slightly in the direction of the arrow, whereupon thebridging member Ii bridges the contacts 4| and the switch II is closed.Accordingly, both sections 42 and 43 of the motor are energized inseries by a circuit extending from the line conductor L1 and includingthe terminals 88, sections of the winding 42 and N, terminal 8!, onecontact 4|, bridging member II, and conductor II to the line conductorL2. The motor, at this time, develops its lower torque which issufficient to operate the basket at low speed, it being understood thatthe speed change magnet is deenergized at this time. The timer motor 4|is energized by a circuit including line conductor In, timer motor 48, aconductor "a, the other contact ll, bridging member 8i, and lineconductor L2. The closing of the switch ll by its cam ll energizes theinlet valve 25 so,that water at a temperature determined by thethermostatic valve 28 is admitted to the washer. When the proper amountof water is contained in the tub II, the float switch 51 is opened fordeenergizing the inlet valve II. The washer now operates for apredetermine period of time, depending upon how far the shaft 41 isadvanced manually to complete the washing operation. At the conclusionof the washing operation, the drain valve I! is opened by the closing ofthe camoperated switch 8| so that the vitiated washing illuid isdischarged to drain by means of the Pump After the water has beendischarged, the high speed solenoid II is energized for a period oftime, for example, of a minute to 1% minutes, by the closing of theswitch II. Accordingly, a substantial portion of the water contained inthe fabrics is centrifuged therefrom and is discharged by the pump ll.Simultaneously, with the closing of the switch ll, the bridging memberII is disengaged from the contacts do and is moved into engagement withthe contacts ll. Accordingly, the section ll only of the running windingI. is energized through the tap Ii and, as explained heretofore, thetorque of the motor is increasedto rapidly accelerate the basket II toits centrifuging speed. Operation of the timer motor II is continued asthe conductor "a is also connected to one of the contacts II. Thecentrifuging, at this time, is of relatively short duration, forexample, to 1% minutes, at the conclusion of which the speed changemagnet II is deenergized by the opening of the switch I8 and, at thesame time, the bridging member II is disengaged from the contacts II andmoved into engagement with the contacts II for energizing both sections42 and 48 of the running winding I. At the same time, the inlet valve 2|is opened by the closing of the switch II, it being understood at thistime that the float switch I! is also closed. The water admitted to thetub it, at this time, is for an agitating rinse which is carried out fora period of about five minutes and at the conclusion of which the drainvalve I! is energized by the closing of the switch ll. Accordingly, therinse water is dicharged from the tub by the pump II.

After the rinse water is discharged from the tub, the high speedsolenoid is again energized by the closing of the switch ll and thebridging member II is moved into engagement with the contacts 48.Accordingly, the motor is again energized through the tap II to providehigh torque operation. The basket is now accelerated to its highcentrifuging speed and is operated at high speed for about five minutesand rinse water is centrifuged from the clothes and discharged by thepump Ii. If desired, the motor 23 may be energized through its hightorque tap connection 4| throughout the centrifuging period, butpreferably the high torque connection is employed only during the periodrequired to accelerate the basket. As shown, the bridging member isshifted from its position in engagement with contacts 49 after about to1% minutes operation at the beginning of the final centrifuging period.At the conclusion of the centrifuging period, the various cams are movedto the position shownln the drawing, wherein all switches are open, thebridging member ll being moved to its position intermediate its contactsII and 49. The apparatus is now inactive, and the cleansed andcentrifuged fabrics may be removed from the basket I I.

In the construction of a domestic automatic washer of the type shownherein, I have employed a standard horsepower split-phase washingmachine motor frame provided with a running winding tapped to providehigh torqueoperation during acceleration of the basket. I have foundthat the periods of acceleration of the basket are substantially reducedwith a normal potential of 115 volts and that satisfactory accelerationmay be accomplished with voltages as low as volts, the temperaturerisein the motor being maintained within allowable limits prescribed for amotor for this Class of service. My invention games 5 contemplates theuse of motors, other than the type shown, arranged, however, forperiodic high torque operation.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious tothose skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptibleof various changes and modifications without departing from the spiritthereof.

What I claim is:

i. In apparatus for cleaning fabrics and for centrifuging cleaning fluidtherefrom, the combination of means for cleaning the fabrics, means forcentrifuging cleaning fluid from the fabrics, a motor for driving,alternatively, the cleaning means and the centrifuging means. said motorhaving first and second circuits energized for effecting, respectively,relatively low and high torque operation of the motor, a controlmechanism movable to one station for connecting said cleaning means tothe motor, said control mechanism being movable to second and thirdstations for connecting said centrifuging means to the motor, saidcentrifuging means being accelerated by the motor when the controlmechanism is dispoud in its second station and driven by the motor for acentrifuging operation when the control mechanism is disposed in itsthird station, means controlled by the control mechanism and responsiveto movement thereof to said second station for energizing said secondcircuit and means controlled by the control mechanism and responsive tomovement thereof to said first and third stations for energizing saidfirst circuit.

2. In apparatus for cleaning fabrics and for centrifuging cleaning fluidtherefrom, the combination of means for cleaning the fabrics, means forcentrifuging cleaning fluid from the fabrics, a motor for driving,alternatively, the cleaning means and the centrifuging means, said motorhaving flrst and second circuits energized for effecting. respectively,relatively low and high torque operation of the motor. a control member,movable to respective stations for sequentially m h sl g u a d the ctrifuging means to said motor, means responsive to second circuit.

3. In apparatus for cleaning fabrics and for centrifuging cleaning fluidtherefrom, the combination of a container for a body of cleaning fluidand the fabrics to betreated. a perforate basket arranged within thecontainer for enclosing the fabrics, a two speed transmission forrotating the basket, means for adjusting the transmission for rotationof the basket at relatively low and high speeds for respectivelycleaning the fabrics and centrifuging fluid from the fabrics, a motorfor driving said mechanism and having first and second windings forrespectively providing low and high torque operation of the motor, atiming device controlling said adjusting means to provide alternativeoperation of the basket at said low and high speeds, and means actuatedby the timing device for sequentially eflecting energization of thefirst and second windings, said timing device effecting energization ofthe first winding during low speed operation of the basket and effectingenergimtion of the second winding for a predetermined period of timewhen said adjusting means is adjusted for high speed operation of thebasket.

HIL'BIRT I. mwarme.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the a file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

